Toothpick.



PATBNTED 00T. 22, 1907'.

` P. GoRUT.

TOOTHPI-GK. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1907.

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R summon D c @ams PETER GORUT, OF FULTON CHAIN, NEW YORK.

TOOTHPICK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Pateiited oct. 22, 1907.

.A prilioation filed April 3, 1907. Serial No. 366,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER GORUT, a citizen oi the 'United States,residing at Fulton Chainl` in the county oi Herkimer and State ol NewYork, have invented new and uselul Improvements in Toothpicks, ol whichthe following is a speci lication.

This invention relates to that class ol tootlipicks which comprise ablade or blades pivoted upon a suitable handle.

One particular object oi the invention is to improve the construction ofthe handle to prevent 'foreign and objectionable substances lroniiinding lodgnient therein.

A iurther object of the invention is to improve the construction of theblade lormin g the tootlipick by providing the saine with an extensionwhereby it may be readily moved-to open or closed position, and it willalso serve, by engagement with the handle, to maintain the blade in anopen position while in use.

With these an d other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature oi' the invention is better' understood, the saine consists inthe improved construction and novel arrangement and combination oi partswhich will be hereinaiter iully described and particularly pointed outiii the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredforni of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theclaims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing, Figure l is a side elevation showing one lorm of theimproved toothpick. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ol" thesame. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a side view illustrating aslightly modilicd form. Fig. 5 is a top view of the latter. Fig. G is alongitudinal sectional view ol the device shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

,Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters oi reference.

The device illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3 differs from that shown inFigs. 4, 5 and 6 principally in that it shows a handle provided with twoblades constituting toothpicks, while in Figs. 4, 5 and G is showirahandle of' a somewhat different design and having a single blade.

In the several figiues of the drawing l. designates a4 handle whichconsists oi a solid, integral elongated piece of material such as bone,ivory, hard rubber, celluloid or the like. Said handle, as shown inFigs. l., 2 and 3, is provided with oppositely disposed incisions orkeris forming recesses 2 2, each ol which extends irom one end oi thehandle in the direction of the opposite end; the extremities ol thehandle being longitudinally divided by said kerfs so as to present ears3 3, the bottoms of said kerfs being inclined in opposite directions sothat the said keris Will'be separated by inclined or obliquely disposedweb 4. The blades 5 5 which are pivotally supported by means of pins 6-6extending transversely through the ears 3 at the ends of the handle, aremade tapering shape to lit the kei-ls or recesses of the handle; saidblades being preferably composed ol thin sheets of hard rubber,celluloid or other suitable material or substance; said blades areprovided adjacent to the pivot ends or butt ends with lugs orprojections 7 of curved or arcuate shape that extend beyond the ends o lthe handle so that by pressing against or manipulating said lugs, theblades may be turned upon their pivots so as to project them from thekei-fs or recesses within which they are normally concealed from viewand protected.

In the construction illustrated Aiii Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the handle isprovided with but a single kerf or recess 2 eX- tending from one end olthe handle in the direction oi the opposite end thereof, one end of saidhandle being divided by said kerl to forni the ears 3dS between whichthe blade 5 is pivoted upon a pin 6 in precisely the manner which hasbeen hereinbelore described; said blade being provided with a projectionor lug 7 whereby it may be manipulated.

The handle, in any case, may be of any suitable ornamental shape; thehandle illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is made to represent the outlineof a fish, but the design thereof may obviously be varied to any extent.

The blade receiving kerf in the handle is made oi such dimensions thatthe blade, when lfolded, will coinpletely .till the kerl, and preventforeign and objectionable substances from entering thereinto; it followsthat, when the blade is folded into the kei-i or recess, it is wiped orstripped oi any material that may adhere thereto, and it will thus bekept in a sanitary condition, perfectly clean and ready for use. Whilethe blade is thus made to fit tightly in the kert oi recess, it may bereadily manipulated or projected for use by means of the lug 7; and,when the blade is unfolded the said lug will rest and bear against thesolid portion of the liandle adjacent to the ears 33 where shoulder, S,is formed which constitutes an obstruction that will prevent the bladeironi swinging beyond a desired point.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A handle member consistingof an integral piece of material having anincision or kerf extending from one end in the direction of the oppositeend of said member, and dividing the end of the handle member from whichit extends to l'orin spaced ears, in combination with a blade pivotedbetween said ears, said blade being of dimensions to accurately fit andcompletely fill the ker'f or recess whereby, when said blade is foldedwithin the recess. adhering material will be wiped therefrom.

2. A handle member consisting of an integral piece of material having,an incision or lierf extending from one end in the direction of tlieopposite end thereof and dividing the end el the handle to forni spacedears, in combination with a blade pivoted between said ears and providedat its butt end with a lug o'r extension of arcuate shape extendingbeyond the handle when the blade is folded and adapted to engage theshoulder or solid portion of the handle adjacent to the spaced ears whenthe blade is extended, said blade being of dimensions to accurately titand completely lill the kerl or recess whereby, when the blade is foldedwithin the recess, adhering material will be wiped therefrom.

A handle provided with kerfs extending from each end in the direction ofthe opposite end, said kerfs serving to divide the ends o1' the handleto form spaced ears, and said kerl's beingseparated by an ohliquelydisposed integral web, in combination with blades pivoted between theears at the ends of the handle and having arcuate lugs or extensionsthat normally project beyond the ends of the handle when the blades arefolded Within the kerfs and engage the shoulders or solid portions atthe ends of the ntegral web when the blades are extended.

In testimony whereof, I atlix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PETER GORUT.

Witnesses 1 AL'eUsT LnNz, '.T. C. PULmmN.

